Hyundai Doubling Down on Electrified Vehicles After Fifth Consecutive Year of Record US Vehicle Sales

After posting its fifth consecutive record sales year in the U.S., Hyundai shows no signs of easing off the accelerator. The automaker is expanding domestic production and accelerating battery innovation as it pushes to grow electric vehicle sales and market share.

Hyundai closed 2025 with total U.S. retail sales of 901,686 vehicles, achieving “5 for 5 in 2025” with a fifth consecutive year of record annual retail sales and a third straight year of record total sales.

Hyundai Motor North America President and CEO Randy Parker credited the company’s broad lineup, which spans electrified vehicles and award-winning SUVs, and said the brand plans to build on that momentum with new products and technologies in 2026.

While several competitors, including Ford, GM and Stellantis, have slowed or postponed major EV investments, Hyundai is doubling down. Electrified vehicles, including EVs and hybrids, accounted for 30 percent of Hyundai’s U.S. retail sales in 2025. The IONIQ 5 ranked as the fifth best-selling EV in the country, with a record 47,039 units sold. By 2030, Hyundai aims to sell 3.3 million electrified vehicles globally, representing about 60 percent of its U.S. sales mix.

To support that growth, Hyundai is ramping up local manufacturing at its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia, where it currently produces the all-electric IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9. Hybrid production, including a new Genesis model, is scheduled to begin later this year. The company expects more than 80 percent of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. to be built domestically by the end of the decade, with supply-chain localization rising to 80 percent.

Battery technology is also central to Hyundai’s strategy. The company is targeting a 30 percent cost reduction, 15 percent higher energy density and 15 percent faster charging times by 2027. Hyundai is also expanding charging access through native NACS ports and its IONNA joint venture, which aims to deploy at least 30,000 high-power public chargers.

Combined with aggressive incentives and a starting price of around $35,000 for the 2026 IONIQ 5, Hyundai is positioning itself to sustain its EV momentum well into 2026 and beyond.

Awards and Endorsements

Hyundai’s IONIQ 9 was named MAMA’s Favorite Electric Vehicle during an award ceremony at McCormick Place during the opening of the Chicago Auto Show.

In a video released by Auto Focus at the end of January, YouTube influencer Marques Brownlee said “This is My Favorite Electric Car Right Now,” when discussing the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT.

Hyundai Motor Group Will Increase Its US Investment to $26 Billion

In August 2025, Hyundai Motor Group announced it will increase its U.S. investment to $26 billion, reinforcing its long-term commitment to innovation, job creation and sustainable growth across multiple industries. The investment began deployment in 2025 and will go up to 2028, significantly expanding the Group’s presence and capabilities in the U.S. market.

The new commitment adds $5 billion to the $21 billion investment plan unveiled in March 2025 and will support Hyundai Motor Group’s strategic priorities across automotive manufacturing, steel production and robotics.

A key component of the plan is the construction of a new steel mill in Louisiana, designed to support critical U.S. industries, including automotive manufacturing, while strengthening domestic supply chains and industrial resilience. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia will also expand their U.S. vehicle production capacity, enabling faster, more efficient responses to changing consumer demand.

In addition, the Group will establish a dedicated robotics facility in the United States with an annual production capacity of 30,000 units. The site will serve as a central hub for robotics design, manufacturing, testing and deployment, positioning Hyundai Motor Group as a leading player in the global robotics sector.

Together, these initiatives are expected to create approximately 25,000 new direct jobs in the U.S. over the next four years. Hyundai Motor Group is also accelerating the commercialization of advanced technologies through its U.S.-based affiliates, including Boston Dynamics in robotics and Motional in autonomous driving, while deepening collaboration with American partners in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous mobility.

Since entering the U.S. market in 1986, Hyundai Motor Group has invested more than $20.5 billion nationwide. The expanded investment underscores the company’s continued commitment to the U.S. economy and its role as a long-term partner in innovation, sustainability and economic growth.